New tool to help firms achieve Cyber Essentials accreditation
The coronavirus pandemic has changed the way cyber criminals target those they want to exploit. With this in mind, the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) has launched the Cyber Essentials Readiness Tool which helps firms prepare themselves for Cyber Essentials certification. The tool has been developed by IASME and asks firms a series of questions […]
Moving to a hybrid workplace
Join us for the legal services event aimed at preparing law firms for the relaxing of lockdown restrictions in the UK. The time has come to embrace a hybrid working model and set your partners and fee earners up for success. Date & Time: 25/05/2021, 10am (duration 2 hrs incl. Q&A) The UK Government has […]
CLC launches cyber insurance consultation
The Council for Licensed Conveyancers (CLC).has launched a consultation aimed at clarifying the extent to which cyber-related losses are covered by professional indemnity insurance (PII). The six-week consultation is in response to directions from both the Prudential Regulation Authority and Lloyd’s of London to manage ‘silent’ risk by being explicit on whether coverage is provided […]
Data Innovation Driving Source of Funds
In January 2021 The Legal Sector Advisory Group on anti-money laundering (LSAG) updated its guidance on how law firms should be dealing with the increasing risk of money laundering. Conveyancing continues to be a focus for criminal activity, enabling criminal organisations to filter illegal funds through the sale and purchase of property. One of the […]
Property Lawyers Convey Law working with the Government to prevent crime
Property Lawyers Convey Law can now check information provided by clients against information held by the government to help verify someone’s identity at the start of a property transaction. This is the first such integration with a legal practice in the UK. The Document Checking Service (DCS) pilot is a government initiative designed to offer organisations […]
Your views wanted on cyber loss insurance clause
The Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) are calling for professionals in the legal sector to give their feedback on a clause which covers for cyber losses explicit in the minimum terms and conditions (MTC) of professional indemnity insurance (PII) policies. On the SRA’s website it states: We are consulting on a proposal to make a change […]
Homeowners pick up the pieces of £800k fraud
A fraudster has secured hundreds of thousands of pounds of illegal funds by cloning the identity of an unsuspecting homeowner and obtaining credit against their identity. Posing as the homeowner of a property for sale, the sophisticated fraud secured an £800,000 mortgage against the property which was advanced to a bank account which had been […]
British Conveyancing Awards Sponsor Spotlight: inCase
In a series of Spotlight pieces, we are thrilled to introduce our supporters of The British Conveyancing Awards 2021 Alongside headline sponsor Lawyer Checker, we look forward to recognising individuals, teams and companies who have gone above and beyond to support buyers and sellers to move home during the most challenging year the conveyancing industry has perhaps […]
Training Academy to help lawyers of the future
The Academy, is a new training facility launched by Simply Conveyancing providing academic and theoretical training for aspiring lawyers. The six month comprehensive training programme and accelerated career pathway has been carefully designed to support Simply colleagues in their journey to become qualified Conveyancers. Through a mix of class-room and on the job training, Academy […]
Spotlight on Lawyer Checker, headline sponsor at the British Conveyancing Awards
This year, we want to do something a little different and celebrate the herculean efforts made by the conveyancing sector who worked tirelessly to ensure the British public could still move during the most difficult year. The event is set to run on Tuesday 25th May 2021 and will be hosted by the multi-award winning broadcaster and […]
Advisor fined for ‘deliberate’ SDLT avoidance
It has been reported in a national newspaper that, David Hannah, founder of Cornerstone tax has lost his appeal against a first tier tribunal verdict and now faces disciplinary action following the failure to pay tens of thousands of pounds on stamp duty following the purchase of his home. The Times reported that Mr Hannah, […]
£200m suspicion on money laundering passed to NCA
A report released by the Solicitor’s Regulation Authority (SRA)has revealed that the agency has reported suspicious activity equating to more than £200m to authorities in the last 12 months. 26 suspicious activity reports were sent to the National Crime Agency (NCA) in the year to the end of October 2020. 266 matters were escalated to […]
New requirement for an independent AML audit from the regulators
On the 20th January 2021 the LSAG published new Anti-Money Laundering Guidance for the legal sector which states that ‘The practice must conduct an independent audit of the adequacy and effectiveness of its AML policies, controls and procedures’. Legal Eye offers an audit service to fulfil this requirement. The audit report summarises an evaluation of […]
Cyber crime and the increased risks of working from home
Paul Saunders, Managing Director of Legal Eye talks to Tom Lyes, Director of Engagement for Lawyer Checker, about the rise in cyber security risks caused by recent changes to working patterns and working from home. This article was submitted to be published by Legal Eye as part of their advertising agreement with Today’s Conveyancer. The […]
Covid has changed criminal behaviour
Jo Hodges, Sales and Marketing Director at Redbrick Solutions shares her thoughts with Today’s Conveyancer about the way the coronavirus pandemic has changed criminal behaviour. It is estimated that organised crime costs the UK economy more than £37bn every year, and the National Crime Agency believes there are 4,500 organised crime groups operating in the […]
OneSearch Direct reports 58% increase in Lawyer Checker searches as fraud risk escalates
OneSearch Direct, the largest local search data company in the UK, has seen a 58% year-on-year increase in orders of Lawyer Checker’s Account Entity Screen, as the industry sees a sharp spike in SRA Scam Alerts, up 75% since January 2020. The rise in remote working due to COVID restrictions has created an extra layer […]
Covid Guidance Documents Updated for Conveyancers
Updated guidance for conveyancing practitioners around dealing with the continued impact of the Coronavirus has been released. The original guidance was compiled by The Law Society, CILEx, the SLC, the Conveyancing Association and the Bold Legal Group. This latest iteration follows on from the work these bodies have been doing in consultation with their respective […]
Webinar: How to protect your firm from a cyber attack
Not even a month into 2021 and already it has been a busy start to the year for law firms. This coupled with the new working from home culture unfortunately elevates the risk of law firms being subject to a cyber attack. In 2019, almost 50% of businesses in the UK suffered a cyber attack […]
FREE Webinar: A Review of the Updated LSAG AML Guidance
If you’re an MLCO or MLRO, hopefully by now you have had chance to grab a copy of the latest LSAG Draft AML Guidance and started to thumb through its content. If you have, then you’ll have noted the many references to “Must”, “Should” and “May”. For those familiar with Lexcel and CQS, you’ll know […]
Do you know the top ten cyber attack reasons?
A new year is widely seen as the chance for a new start; time to look at your priorities with a fresh perspective and vigor. This new year has started very differently for all of us. Many won’t head into the office as we once would, and this brings with it it’s very own set […]
